Detection Window Indication Method and Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A detection window indication method and apparatus. The method includes receiving control channel configuration information from a network device, where the control channel configuration information indicates a resource multiplexing mode of a resource set of a control channel and a common signal block, and further indicates at least one of a duration of a detection window of the control channel or a time-domain start location of the detection window of the control channel, and detecting, according to the detection window and the resource set, the control channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/875,508 filed May 15, 2020, which is a continuation application ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2018/116060, filed on Nov. 17, 2018,which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201711148325.4,filed on Nov. 17, 2017. The disclosures of the aforementionedapplications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to the wireless communications field, and inparticular, to a detection window indication method and apparatus.

BACKGROUND

In Long Term Evolution (LTE) technologies, searching of a network devicestarts in a synchronization process. In the process, time and frequencysynchronization is achieved between a terminal and each network deviceaccording to a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondarysynchronization signal (SSS) that are broadcast by the network device.Specifically, the terminal obtains a physical identifier of the networkdevice, a cyclic prefix length, and a duplex mode of the network deviceby using the synchronization process. In an initial synchronizationprocess performed after a synchronization signal is detected, theterminal decodes a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) to obtain keysystem information, mainly including a master information block (MIB)and a system information block (SIB). A synchronization signal thatoccupies four consecutive orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(OFDM) symbols in a time domain and a broadcast channel form asynchronization signal/broadcast channel block (SS/BCH block). Eachnetwork device may send a plurality of SS/BCH blocks in a time divisionmanner. Different SS/BCH blocks are corresponding to different transmitbeams. Each SS/BCH block is associated with a detection window of acontrol channel of one piece of system information. The network devicesends control information of system information on a time-frequencyresource in the detection window of the control channel.Correspondingly, the terminal performs blind detection on the controlchannel of the system information in the detection window. Specifically,the terminal performs blind detection on the control channel of thesystem information on time domain resource and/or frequency domainresource of the detection window.

The foregoing detection window includes a plurality of consecutive slotsin the time domain, for example, including one, two, or four consecutiveslots. To indicate the detection window, duration and a detection windowperiod, and a time-domain offset (offset) used to determine a startlocation of the detection window need to be indicated. However,configuration information that is in the broadcast channel and that isused for the control channel of the system information includes amaximum of only eight bits. In addition to indication information of thedetection window, the configuration information further includesinformation indicating a frequency domain resource, a transmission mode,and the like of the control channel. Therefore, a quantity of availablebits for indicating the detection window is extremely limited, and thedetection window cannot be flexibly indicated.

SUMMARY

This application provides a detection window indication method andapparatus, to flexibly indicate a detection window.

According to a first aspect, this application provides a flexibledetection window indication method, including generating, by a networkdevice, control channel configuration information, where the controlchannel configuration information includes a detection window indicationinformation field of a control channel, and the detection windowindication information field of the control channel is used to indicateat least one of the following: duration of a detection window, adetection window period, and information of a time-domain start locationof the detection window, and sending, by the network device, the controlchannel configuration information to a terminal.

In a possible design, one detection window indication information fieldof the control channel is used to indicate at least two of thefollowing: the duration of the detection window, the detection windowperiod, and the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window, for example, used to indicate the duration of thedetection window and the information of the time-domain start locationof the detection window.

Optionally, the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel is used to indicate at least one of the following: theduration of the detection window, the detection window period, and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window,comprises used to indicate the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window, or, used to indicate the duration ofthe detection window, or, used to indicate the detection window period,or, used to indicate the duration of the detection window and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window,or, used to indicate the duration of the detection window and thedetection window period, or, used to indicate the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window and the detectionwindow period, or used to indicate the information of the time-domainstart location of the detection window, the detection window period, andthe duration of the detection window.

It can be understood that in this application, “at least one of A and B”is interpreted as being able to include A, B, or, A and B, wherein thequantity of A can be one or more, and the quantity of B can be one ormore. The specific quantity of A or B is not limited.

In a possible design, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel indicates any two of the following information:the duration of the detection window, the detection window period, andthe information of the time-domain start location of the detectionwindow, and information other than the two of the information indicatedby the detection window indication information field of the controlchannel is preset information, or is determined according to a presetmapping relationship.

In a possible design, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel is used to indicate the duration of the detectionwindow and the detection window period, and the method further includesobtaining, by the network device, the information of the time-domainstart location of the detection window.

In a possible design, the obtaining, by the network device, theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection windowincludes at least one of the following manners: obtaining, by thenetwork device, information of a preset time-domain start location ofthe detection window, obtaining, by the network device, the informationof the time-domain start location of the detection window according to acarrier frequency corresponding to the control channel, and a mappingrelationship between the carrier frequency and the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window, and obtaining, bythe network device, the information of the time-domain start location ofthe detection window according to the duration of the detection windowand/or the detection window period.

In a possible design, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel is used to indicate the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window and the duration ofthe detection window, and the method further includes obtaining, by thenetwork device, the detection window period.

In a possible design, the obtaining, by the network device, thedetection window period includes at least one of the following manners:obtaining, by the network device, a preset detection window period,obtaining, by the network device, the detection window period accordingto a period of a common signal block, and obtaining, by the networkdevice, the detection window period according to the duration of thedetection window and/or the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window.

In a possible design, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel is used to indicate the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window and the detectionwindow period, and the method further includes obtaining, by the networkdevice, the duration of the detection window.

In a possible design, the obtaining, by the network device, the durationof the detection window includes at least one of the following manners:obtaining, by the network device, preset duration of the detectionwindow, obtaining, by the network device, the duration of the detectionwindow according to a carrier frequency corresponding to the controlchannel, and a mapping relationship between the carrier frequency andthe duration of the detection window, and obtaining, by the networkdevice, the duration of the detection window according to theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection windowand/or the detection window period.

Optionally, the method further includes indicating, by the networkdevice to the terminal by using a broadcast channel, an interval valuebetween detection windows associated with any two adjacent common signalblocks. Different interval values can be configured according todifferent scenarios, which can flexibly adapt to the requirements fromthe different scenarios and maximize transmission efficiency of acontrol channel.

Optionally, the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window is time location information, or the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window is an offset relativeto a reference point. Optionally, the reference point is predefined, oris implicitly indicated.

According to a second aspect, this application provides a flexibledetection window indication method, including receiving, by a terminal,control channel configuration information sent by a network device,where the control channel configuration information includes a detectionwindow indication information field of a control channel, and thedetection window indication information field of the control channel isused to indicate at least one of the following: duration of a detectionwindow, a detection window period, and information of a time-domainstart location of the detection window, and determining, by theterminal, the detection window of the control channel according to thecontrol channel configuration information.

The terminal performs blind detection of the control channel of systeminformation on all time domain and/or frequency domain resources in thedetection window. Alternatively, the terminal performs blind detectionof the control channel of system information on partial time domainand/or frequency domain resources in the detection window. Optionally,the terminal can perform blind detection of the control channel ofsystem information on time/frequency resources outside the detectionwindow.

In a possible design, one detection window indication information fieldof the control channel is used to indicate at least two of thefollowing: the duration of the detection window, the detection windowperiod, and the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window.

In a possible design, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel indicates any two of the following information:the duration of the detection window, the detection window period, andthe information of the time-domain start location of the detectionwindow, and information other than the two of the information indicatedby the detection window indication information field of the controlchannel is preset information, or is determined according to a presetmapping relationship.

In a possible design, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel is used to indicate the duration of the detectionwindow and the detection window period.

In a possible design, the information of the time-domain start locationof the detection window is obtained in at least one of the followingmanners: the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window is information of a preset time-domain start locationof the detection window, obtaining the information of the time-domainstart location of the detection window according to a carrier frequencycorresponding to the control channel, and a mapping relationship betweenthe carrier frequency and the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window, and obtaining the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window according to theduration of the detection window and/or the detection window period.

In a possible design, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel is used to indicate the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window and the duration ofthe detection window.

In a possible design, the detection window period is obtained in atleast one of the following manners: the detection window period is apreset detection window period, obtaining the detection window periodaccording to a period of a common signal block, and obtaining thedetection window period according to the duration of the detectionwindow and/or the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window.

In a possible design, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel is used to indicate the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window and the detectionwindow period.

In a possible design, the duration of the detection window is obtainedin at least one of the following manners: the duration of the detectionwindow is preset duration of the detection window, obtaining theduration of the detection window according to a carrier frequencycorresponding to the control channel, and a mapping relationship betweenthe carrier frequency and the duration of the detection window, andobtaining the duration of the detection window according to theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection windowand/or the detection window period.

Optionally, the method further includes obtaining, by the terminal byusing a broadcast channel, an interval value that is between detectionwindows associated with any two adjacent common signal blocks and thatis indicated by the network device.

According to the first aspect and/or the second aspect one or more ofthe flowing may be applied.

In a possible design, the detection window period or a value range ofthe detection window period is determined according to a systeminformation transmission time interval.

In a possible design, the duration of the detection window is determinedaccording to the detection window period, or the detection window periodis determined according to the duration of the detection window.

In a possible design, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel further indicates a resource multiplexing mode ofa resource set of the control channel and the common signal block.

In a possible design, the time-domain start location of the detectionwindow and the duration of the detection window that are indicated bythe detection window indication information field of the control channelare one of the following: (0, 1), (m, 1), (m, 2), and (m, 4), where m isa real number greater than 0.

In a possible design, a resource multiplexing mode, corresponding to(0,1), of the resource set of the control channel and the common signalblock is a frequency division multiplexing mode, and a resourcemultiplexing mode, corresponding to (m, 1) or (m, 2) or (m, 4), of theresource set of the control channel and the common signal block is atime division multiplexing mode.

In a possible design, m is determined according to the carrier frequencycorresponding to the control channel.

In a possible design, the information of the time-domain start locationof the detection window is determined according to the carrier frequencycorresponding to the control channel.

In a possible design, the duration of the detection window or a valuerange of the duration of the detection window is determined according tothe carrier frequency corresponding to the control channel.

In a possible design, the information of the time-domain start locationof the detection window is determined according to a time interval ofthe corresponding resource set CORESET of the control channel, that is,may be implicitly indicated by using the time interval of thecorresponding resource set CORESET of the control channel.

Specifically, the network device/the terminal may obtain the informationof the time-domain start location of the detection window according tothe time interval of the CORESET.

In a possible design, the information of the time-domain start locationof the detection window is determined according to a system parametercorresponding to the control channel, that is, may be implicitlyindicated by using the system parameter corresponding to the controlchannel.

Specifically, the network device/the terminal may obtain the informationof the time-domain start location of the detection window according tothe system parameter corresponding to the control channel.

In a possible design, the network device/the terminal may alternativelydetermine the detection window indication information field according tothe resource multiplexing mode of the resource set of the controlchannel (Control Resource Set, CORESET) and the common signal block.

According to a third aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication method, including generating, by a network device,detection window indication information of a control channel, where thedetection window indication information is used to indicate one or moreof the following: duration of a detection window, a detection windowperiod, and information of a time-domain start location of the detectionwindow, and when a carrier frequency corresponding to the controlchannel is a first carrier frequency, the detection window indicationinformation includes N1 bits in a physical broadcast channel, or when acarrier frequency corresponding to the control channel is a secondcarrier frequency, the detection window indication information includesN2 bits in a physical broadcast channel, where N1 is greater than N2,and sending, by the network device, the detection window indicationinformation to a terminal.

In a possible design, at the first carrier frequency, the N1 bitsinclude a common signal block time index field.

According to a fourth aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication method, including receiving, by a terminal, detectionwindow indication information sent by a network device, where thedetection window indication information is used to indicate one or moreof the following: duration of a detection window, a detection windowperiod, and information of a time-domain start location of the detectionwindow, and when a carrier frequency corresponding to the controlchannel is a first carrier frequency, the detection window indicationinformation includes N1 bits in a physical broadcast channel, or when acarrier frequency corresponding to the control channel is a secondcarrier frequency, the detection window indication information includesN2 bits in a physical broadcast channel, where N1 is greater than N2,and determining, by the terminal, the detection window of the controlchannel according to the detection window indication information.

In a possible design, at the first carrier frequency, the N1 bitsinclude a common signal block time index field.

According to a fifth aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication apparatus. The apparatus includes modules or meansconfigured to perform the method provided in the first aspect and theimplementations of the first aspect.

According to a sixth aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication apparatus. The apparatus includes modules or meansconfigured to perform the method provided in the second aspect and theimplementations of the second aspect.

According to a seventh aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication apparatus. The apparatus includes modules or meansconfigured to perform the method provided in the third aspect and theimplementations of the third aspect.

According to an eighth aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication apparatus. The apparatus includes modules or meansconfigured to perform the method provided in the fourth aspect and theimplementations of the fourth aspect.

According to a ninth aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication apparatus. The apparatus includes a transceiver, aprocessor, and a memory, where the memory is configured to store aprogram, and the processor invokes the program stored in the memory, toperform the method provided in the first aspect of this application.

According to a tenth aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication apparatus. The apparatus includes a transceiver, aprocessor, and a memory, where the memory is configured to store aprogram, and the processor invokes the program stored in the memory, toperform the method provided in the second aspect of this application.

According to an eleventh aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication apparatus. The apparatus includes a transceiver, aprocessor, and a memory, where the memory is configured to store aprogram, and the processor invokes the program stored in the memory, toperform the method provided in the third aspect of this application.

According to a twelfth aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication apparatus. The apparatus includes a transceiver, aprocessor, and a memory, where the memory is configured to store aprogram, and the processor invokes the program stored in the memory, toperform the method provided in the fourth aspect of this application.

According to a thirteenth aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication apparatus, including at least one processing element(or chip) configured to perform the method in the first aspect.

According to a fourteenth aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication apparatus, including at least one processing element(or chip) configured to perform the method in the second aspect.

According to a fifteenth aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication apparatus, including at least one processing element(or chip) configured to perform the method in the third aspect.

According to a sixteenth aspect, this application provides a detectionwindow indication apparatus, including at least one processing element(or chip) configured to perform the method in the fourth aspect.

According to a seventeenth aspect, this application provides a computerstorage medium. The computer storage medium is configured to store aprogram, where the program is used to perform the method in the firstaspect.

According to an eighteenth aspect, this application provides a computerstorage medium. The computer storage medium is configured to store aprogram, where the program is used to perform the method in the secondaspect.

According to a nineteenth aspect, this application provides a computerstorage medium. The computer storage medium is configured to store aprogram, where the program is used to perform the method in the thirdaspect.

According to a twentieth aspect, this application provides a computerstorage medium. The computer storage medium is configured to store aprogram, where the program is used to perform the method in the fourthaspect.

According to a twenty-first aspect, this application provides aprocessor. The processor includes at least one circuit configured togenerate control channel configuration information, where the controlchannel configuration information includes a detection window indicationinformation field of a control channel, and the detection windowindication information field of the control channel is used to indicateat least two of the following: duration of a detection window, adetection window period, and information of a time-domain start locationof the detection window, and at least one circuit configured to send thecontrol channel configuration information to a terminal.

According to a twenty-second aspect, this application provides aprocessor. The processor includes at least one circuit configured toreceive control channel configuration information sent by a networkdevice, where the control channel configuration information includes adetection window indication information field of a control channel, andthe detection window indication information field of the control channelis used to indicate at least two of the following: duration of adetection window, a detection window period, and information of atime-domain start location of the detection window, and at least onecircuit configured to determine the detection window of the controlchannel according to the control channel configuration information.

According to a twenty-third aspect, this application provides aprocessor. The processor includes at least one circuit configured togenerate detection window indication information of a control channel,where the detection window indication information is used to indicateone or more of the following: duration of a detection window, adetection window period, and information of a time-domain start locationof the detection window, and when a carrier frequency corresponding tothe control channel is a first carrier frequency, the detection windowindication information includes N1 bits in a physical broadcast channel,or when a carrier frequency corresponding to the control channel is asecond carrier frequency, the detection window indication informationincludes N2 bits in a physical broadcast channel, where N1 is greaterthan N2, and at least one circuit configured to send the detectionwindow indication information to a terminal.

According to a twenty-fourth aspect, this application provides aprocessor. The processor includes at least one circuit configured toreceive detection window indication information sent by a networkdevice, where the detection window indication information is used toindicate one or more of the following: duration of a detection window, adetection window period, and information of a time-domain start locationof the detection window, and when a carrier frequency corresponding to acontrol channel is a first carrier frequency, the detection windowindication information includes N1 bits in a physical broadcast channel,or when a carrier frequency corresponding to a control channel is asecond carrier frequency, the detection window indication informationincludes N2 bits in a physical broadcast channel, where N1 is greaterthan N2, and at least one circuit configured to determine the detectionwindow of the control channel according to the detection windowindication information.

According to a twenty-fifth aspect, this application provides a programused to, when running on a device, perform the method according to anyone of the foregoing aspects.

According to a twenty-sixth aspect, this application provides a systeminformation indication method, including generating, by a networkdevice, system information indication information, where the systeminformation indication information is used to indicate whether systeminformation corresponding to a common signal block exists, the systeminformation indication information is explicitly or implicitly indicatedto a terminal by using N1 bits in a physical broadcast channel of thecommon signal block, and N1 is an integer greater than 0, and sending,by the network device, the system information indication information tothe terminal.

Optionally, the N1 bits are indication information bits used to indicatea physical resource block grid offset, or the N1 bits are CRC (CyclicRedundancy Check) mask indication bits of a broadcast channel, or the N1bits are time index indication bits of a common signal block of abroadcast channel and/or control channel configuration informationindication bits of system information of a broadcast channel.

According to a twenty-seventh aspect, this application provides a systeminformation indication method, including receiving, by a terminal,system information indication information sent by a network device,where the system information indication information is used to indicatewhether system information corresponding to a common signal blockexists, and the system information indication information is explicitlyor implicitly indicated by using N1 bits in a physical broadcast channelof the common signal block, and determining, by the terminal, systeminformation according to the system information indication information.

Optionally, the N1 bits are indication information bits used to indicatea physical resource block grid offset, or the N1 bits are CRC (CyclicRedundancy Check) mask indication bits of a broadcast channel, or the N1bits are time index indication bits of a common signal block of abroadcast channel and/or control channel configuration informationindication bits of system information of a broadcast channel.

According to a twenty-eighth aspect, this application provides a systeminformation indication apparatus. The apparatus includes modules ormeans configured to perform the method provided in the implementationsof the twenty-sixth aspect.

According to a twenty-ninth aspect, this application provides a systeminformation indication apparatus. The apparatus includes modules ormeans configured to perform the method provided in the implementationsof the twenty-seventh aspect.

According to a thirtieth aspect, this application provides a systeminformation indication apparatus, including a processor and a memory,where the memory is configured to store a program, and the processorinvokes the program stored in the memory, to perform the method providedin the twenty-sixth aspect of this application.

According to a thirty-first aspect, this application provides a systeminformation indication apparatus, including a processor and a memory,where the memory is configured to store a program, and the processorinvokes the program stored in the memory, to perform the method providedin the twenty-seventh aspect of this application.

According to the detection window indication method and apparatusprovided in this application, the network device generates the controlchannel configuration information, where the control channelconfiguration information includes the detection window indicationinformation field of the control channel, and the detection windowindication information field of the control channel is used to indicateat least two of the following: the duration of the detection window, thedetection window period, and the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window. Further, the network device sends thecontrol channel configuration information to the terminal, and theterminal determines the detection window of the control channelaccording to the control channel configuration information. Thisimplements that one field is used to indicate at least two of theduration of the detection window, the detection window period, and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window,and implements an effect of indicating more information by using asfewer bits as possible.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic architectural diagram of a communications systemaccording to this application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a detection window indication methodaccording to an embodiment of this application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection window accordingto this application;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a detection window indication methodaccording to another embodiment of this application;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection windowindication apparatus according to an embodiment of this application;

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection windowindication apparatus according to another embodiment of thisapplication;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection windowindication apparatus according to still another embodiment of thisapplication;

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection windowindication apparatus according to yet another embodiment of thisapplication; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection windowindication apparatus according to still yet another embodiment of thisapplication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

It may be understood that “indication”, “mapping”, and “relative to”mentioned in the embodiments of this application may be understood as anexplicit or implicit manner, and are not specifically limited.

The embodiments of this application may be applied to a wirelesscommunications system. It should be noted that the wirelesscommunications system mentioned in the embodiments of this applicationincludes but is not limited to a Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT)system, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), an EnhancedData rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) system, a Wideband Code DivisionMultiple Access (WCDMA) system, a Code Division Multiple Access 2000(CDMA2000) system, a Time Division-Synchronous Code Division MultipleAccess (TD-SCDMA) system, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, and threeapplication scenarios of a next-generation 5G mobile communicationssystem: Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), URLLC, and massive machinetype communications (mMTC).

In the embodiments of this application, a terminal includes but is notlimited to a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal, a mobile telephone,a handset, portable equipment, and the like. The terminal maycommunicate with one or more core networks by using a radio accessnetwork (RAN). For example, the terminal may be a mobile telephone (orreferred to as a “cellular” telephone), a computer having a wirelesscommunication function, or the like, or the terminal may be a portable,pocket-sized, handheld, computer built-in, or in-vehicle mobileapparatus or device.

FIG. 1 is a schematic architectural diagram of a communications systemaccording to this application.

As shown in FIG. 1, a communications system 01 includes a network device101 and a terminal 102. When the wireless communications network 01includes a core network, the network device 101 may be further connectedto the core network.

A network device provides a service for a terminal in a coverage area.For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the network device 101 provides radioaccess for one or more terminals in a coverage area of the networkdevice 101. In addition, there may be an overlapping area betweencoverage areas of network devices, for example, the network device 101and a network device 201. The network devices may further communicatewith each other. For example, the network device 101 may communicatewith the network device 201.

The network device 101 may be a device configured to communicate with aterminal. For example, the network device 101 may be a base transceiverstation (BTS) in a GSM system or a CDMA system, may be a NodeB (NB) in aWCDMA system, or may be an evolved NodeB (eNB or eNodeB) in an LTEsystem, a network-side device in a future 5G network, or the like.Alternatively, the network device may be a relay station, an accesspoint, an in-vehicle device, or the like. In a device-to-device (D2D)communications system, the network device may alternatively be aterminal that functions as a base station. The terminal may includevarious handheld devices, in-vehicle devices, wearable devices, andcomputing devices that have a wireless communication function, or otherprocessing devices connected to a wireless modem, user equipment (UE)and mobile stations (MSes) that are in various forms, and the like.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a detection window indication methodaccording to an embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 2, themethod includes the following steps.

S201: A network device generates control channel configurationinformation.

The control channel configuration information includes a detectionwindow indication information field of a control channel. The detectionwindow indication information field of the control channel is used toindicate at least one of the following: duration of a detection window,a detection window period, and information of a time-domain startlocation of the detection window.

Specifically, when the detection window indication information field ofthe control channel indicates any one of the duration of the detectionwindow, the detection window period, and the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window, the other two may bepreset, or may be obtained according to a preset mapping relationship.

Examples are described as follows.

(a) When the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel indicates the duration of the detection window, thedetection window period and the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window may be a preset detection window periodand information of a preset time-domain start location of the detectionwindow.

Alternatively, the network device/a terminal obtains the information ofthe time-domain start location of the detection window according to acarrier frequency corresponding to the control channel, and a mappingrelationship between the carrier frequency and the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window of the controlchannel. The network device/the terminal may obtain the detection windowperiod according to a period of a common signal block, and a mappingrelationship between the period of the common signal block and thedetection window period.

Alternatively, the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window is determined according to the duration of thedetection window, and a mapping relationship between the information ofthe time-domain start location of the detection window and the durationof the detection window. Similarly, the detection window period isdetermined according to the duration of the detection window, and amapping relationship between the detection window period and theduration of the detection window.

(b) When the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel indicates the detection window period, the duration ofthe detection window and the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window may be preset duration of the detectionwindow and information of a preset time-domain start location of thedetection window.

Alternatively, the network device/a terminal obtains the information ofthe time-domain start location of the detection window according to acarrier frequency corresponding to the control channel, and a mappingrelationship between the carrier frequency and the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window of the controlchannel. The network device/the terminal obtains the duration of thedetection window according to the carrier frequency corresponding to thecontrol channel, and a mapping relationship between the carrierfrequency and the duration of the detection window.

Alternatively, the duration of the detection window is determinedaccording to the detection window period, and a mapping relationshipbetween the duration of the detection window and the detection windowperiod. Similarly, the information of the time-domain start location ofthe detection window is determined according to the detection windowperiod, and a mapping relationship between the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window and the detectionwindow period.

(c) When the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel indicates the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window, the duration of the detection windowis preset duration of the detection window, and the detection windowperiod is a preset detection window period.

Alternatively, the network device/a terminal obtains the duration of thedetection window according to a carrier frequency corresponding to thecontrol channel, and a mapping relationship between the carrierfrequency and the duration of the detection window. The networkdevice/the terminal may obtain the detection window period according toa period of a common signal block, and a mapping relationship betweenthe period of the common signal block and the detection window period.

Alternatively, the duration of the detection window is determinedaccording to the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window, and a mapping relationship between the duration of thedetection window and the information of the time-domain start locationof the detection window. The detection window period is determinedaccording to the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window, and a mapping relationship between the detectionwindow period and the information of the time-domain start location ofthe detection window.

Alternatively, further, the detection window indication informationfield of the control channel is used to indicate at least two of thefollowing: the duration of the detection window, the detection windowperiod, and the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window.

In this application, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel may include one or more bits. Values of the fieldare corresponding to different detection window indication information.For example, a specific value of the field is corresponding to a groupof the duration of the detection window and the detection window period,or a specific value of the field is corresponding to a group of theduration of the detection window and the information of the time-domainstart location of the detection window, or a specific value of the fieldis corresponding to a group of the detection window period and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window,or a specific value of the field is corresponding to a group of theduration of the detection window, the detection window period, and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window.

The information of the time-domain start location of the detectionwindow may be information of a time location (for example, a slot, asymbol, or a symbol of a slot), or may be an offset of the detectionwindow relative to a reference point (namely, information of a relativetime location, for example, an offset relative to a slot or a symbol).The terminal may determine the time-domain start location of thedetection window according to the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window.

Optionally, the reference point may be a time point corresponding to acommon signal block, for example, an i^(th) SS/BCH block, where i is anatural number greater than or equal to 1. Alternatively, the referencepoint may be another time point, for example, a fixed frame, a fixedslot, or a fixed symbol. The reference point may be predefined, or maybe implicitly indicated. No specific limitation is imposed herein.

Optionally, each SS/BCH block is associated with a detection window of acontrol channel. A time-domain start location of the detection window(for example, starting slot) may be determined according to an index ofa SS/BCH block associated with the detection window and an offsetbetween a detection window associated with the first SS/BCH block and astart time-domain location of a system frame. The offset between adetection window associated with the first SS/BCH block and a starttime-domain location of a system frame may be determined according to aprotocol, for example, determined according to a fixed value and asub-carrier spacing.

Optionally, after determining a starting slot, a symbol offset in theslot can be further determined. It can be understood that thetime-domain start location of the detection window starts from a symbolin the slot. The specific symbol may be determined according to aconfiguration or a protocol.

The manner provided in this application avoids a case in which “theduration of the detection window, the detection window period, and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window”and other detection window information each occupy some bits. Throughjoint encoding, one field may be used to indicate a combination of atleast two of detection window information, thereby saving bits. Itshould be noted that joint encoding and indication may be performed byusing at least one of the foregoing detection window information andother configuration information of the control channel such as at leastone of a size of a resource set of the control channel, a time intervalof the resource set of the control channel, and comb information of theresource set of the control channel. No specific limitation is imposedherein.

In addition, the common signal block in this application may include atleast one of a synchronization signal (SS) block and a physicalbroadcast channel (PBCH) block, and may be denoted as an SS/PBCH block.

An SS may include a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondarysynchronization signal (SSS).

S202: The network device sends the control channel configurationinformation to a terminal.

Optionally, the network device sends the control channel configurationinformation to the terminal by using a physical broadcast channel.

S203: The terminal determines a detection window of the control channelaccording to the control channel configuration information.

The terminal may determine the detection window of the control channelafter obtaining the control channel configuration information. Thenetwork device sends control information on a time-frequency resource inthe detection window. Correspondingly, the terminal performs blinddetection on the control channel in the detection window.

The control channel herein may be a control channel of systeminformation, a control channel of a random access response, or a controlchannel of a paging channel. No specific limitation is imposed in thisapplication. A control channel of A is a scheduling channel of A, whereA may be any one of the system information, the random access response,or the paging channel. A control channel of system information can beincluded in a control resource set (CORESET) of a Typeo-physicaldownlink control channel (PDCCH). Configuration information of theCORESET of the Typeo-PDCCH may be indicated by indication informationpdcch-ConfigSIB1 in MIB. A time/frequency resource location (forexample, consecutive resource blocks (RBs) and consecutive symbols) isindicated by the four most significant bits and the four leastsignificant bits in the indication information. The Typeo-PDCCH may beused to transmit scheduling information of system information block 1(SIB1) which may also be called remaining minimum system information(RMSI).

The system information may be any one of remaining minimum systeminformation (RMSI), other system information (OSI), or another type ofsystem information. No specific limitation is imposed in thisapplication.

In this embodiment, the network device generates the control channelconfiguration information, where the control channel configurationinformation includes the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel, and the detection window indication informationfield of the control channel is used to indicate at least two of thefollowing: the duration of the detection window, the detection windowperiod, and the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window. Further, the network device sends the control channelconfiguration information to the terminal, and the terminal determinesthe detection window of the control channel according to the controlchannel configuration information. This implements that one field isused to indicate at least two of the duration of the detection window,the detection window period, and the information of the time-domainstart location of the detection window, and implements an effect ofindicating more information by using as fewer bits as possible.

Optionally, the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel indicates any two of the following information: theduration of the detection window, the detection window period, and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window.

Correspondingly, information other than the two of the informationindicated by the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel is preset information, or is determined according to apreset mapping relationship.

In other words, when the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel indicates the two of the information, the othermay be preconfigured, or may be implicitly indicated by using the presetmapping relationship.

In an implementation, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel is used to indicate the duration of the detectionwindow and the detection window period.

For example, the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel includes only two bits, which may indicate fourinformation values of “the duration (unit: slot) of the detection windowand the period (unit: millisecond (ms)) of the detection window”. Forexample, a possible value set of the duration of the detection window is{1 slot, 2 slots, 4 slots}, and a possible value set of the detectionwindow period is {10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms}.

Optionally, the four information values of the “the duration of thedetection window and the detection window period” may include (4 slots,80 ms), (2 slots, 40 ms), (1 slot, 20 Ms), and (1 slot, 10 ms), or (4slots, 40 ms), (2 slots, 20 Ms), (2 slots, 10 ms), and (1 slot, 10 ms),or (4 slots, 80 ms), (2 slots, 40 ms), (2 slots, 20 ms), and (1 slot, 10ms).

Specifically, four cases (4 slots, 80 ms), (2 slots, 40 ms), (1 slot, 20ms), and (1 slot, 10 ms) are used as examples. When the two bits of thedetection window indication information field of the control channel are“00”, (4 slots, 80 ms) is indicated, when the two bits are “01”, (2slots, 40 ms) is indicated, when the two bits are “10”, (1 slot, 20 ms)is indicated, or when the two bits are “11”, (1 slot, 10 ms) isindicated. Certainly, the foregoing examples are not construed as alimitation. For example, a possible value of the duration of thedetection window may be another value different from the foregoingvalues, for example, 8 slots, and a possible value of the detectionwindow period may also be another value different from the foregoingvalues, for example, 160 ms. No specific limitation is imposed herein.

For another example, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel includes only three bits, which may indicateeight information values of “the duration of the detection window andthe detection window period”. For example, a possible value set of theduration of the detection window is {1 slot, 2 slots, 4 slots}, and apossible value set of the detection window period is {10 ms, 20 ms, 40ms, 80 ms}.

Optionally, the eighth information values of the “the duration of thedetection window and the detection window period” may include (4 slots,80 ms), (4 slots, 40 ms), (4 slots, 20 ms), (2 slots, 40 ms), (2 slots,20 ms), (2 slots, 10 ms), (1 slot, 20 ms), and (1 slot, 10 ms), or (4slots, 80 ms), (4 slots, 40 ms), (4 slots, 20 ms), (4 slots, 10 ms), (2slots, 80 ms), (2 slots, 40 ms), (2 slots, 20 ms), and (2 slots, 10 ms).

Similar to the foregoing example, different values of the detectionwindow indication information field of the control channel may becorresponding to different information values of “the duration of thedetection window and the detection window period”. It is assumed that“000” indicates (4 slots, 80 ms), and others are similar. Details arenot described one by one.

The four two-bit information values of “the duration of the detectionwindow and the detection window period” and the eight three-bitinformation values of “the duration of the detection window and thedetection window period” satisfy: Larger duration of the detectionwindow is corresponding to a larger detection window period, or a largerdetection window period is corresponding to larger duration of thedetection window. In other words, the detection window period may bedetermined according to the duration of the detection window, or theduration of the detection window may be determined according to thedetection window period. Scheduling flexibility of the control channelis determined according to both the duration of the detection window andthe detection window period of the control channel, and the foregoingconfiguration method can maximize the scheduling flexibility of thecontrol channel. In conclusion, this design can reduce a quantity ofbits of detection window indication information of the control channel,and can also maximize configuration flexibility of the detection window,thereby ensuring the scheduling flexibility of the control channel.

Correspondingly, the network device further needs to obtain theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window.The terminal also needs to obtain the information of the time-domainstart location of the detection window.

In a specific implementation process, the information of the time-domainstart location of the detection window may be obtained in at least oneof the following manners.

(1) The network device/the terminal obtains the information of a presettime-domain start location of the detection window.

To be specific, the network device/the terminal may preset theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window byusing a protocol or through information exchange.

(2) The information of the time-domain start location of the detectionwindow of the control channel is associated with the carrier frequencycorresponding to the control channel.

Specifically, the network device/the terminal may obtain the informationof the time-domain start location of the detection window according tothe carrier frequency corresponding to the control channel, and themapping relationship between the carrier frequency and the informationof the time-domain start location of the detection window of the controlchannel.

To be specific, the network device/the terminal presets the mappingrelationship between the carrier frequency and the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window of the controlchannel.

For example, the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window is an offset of the detection window relative to areference point. For example, when a carrier frequency bandcorresponding to the control channel is less than 6 gigahertz (GHz), anoffset of the detection window relative to an SS/BCH block is 0 timeunits, or when a carrier frequency band corresponding to the controlchannel is greater than or equal to 6 GHz, an offset of the detectionwindow relative to an SS/BCH block is M time units, where M is a realnumber greater than 0. A specific value of M is not limited herein. Thetime unit may be at least one of a slot, a half-frame, a frame, a timeinterval of the SS/BCH block, a short slot of at least one symbol, orthe like. It should be understood that classification of carrierfrequency bands herein is merely a possible example, and there may beanother carrier frequency band classification method.

(3) The information of the time-domain start location of the detectionwindow is implicitly indicated by using the duration of the detectionwindow and/or the detection window period.

Specifically, the network device/the terminal may obtain the informationof the time-domain start location of the detection window according tothe duration of the detection window and/or the detection window period.

After determining the duration of the detection window and/or thedetection window period, the network device/the terminal may obtain theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection windowaccording to the duration of the detection window, and the mappingrelationship between the duration of the detection window and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window.For example, larger duration of the detection window indicates a largeroffset indicating the information of the time-domain start location ofthe detection window. Alternatively, a value of the duration of thedetection window is directly configured to be corresponding to a valueof a time-domain start location of the detection window.

Alternatively, the network device/the terminal may obtain theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection windowaccording to the detection window period, and the mapping relationshipbetween the detection window period and the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window. Similarly, a largerdetection window period may indicate a larger offset indicating theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window.Alternatively, a value of the detection window period is directlyconfigured to be corresponding to a value of a time-domain startlocation of the detection window.

Alternatively, the network device/the terminal may obtain theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection windowaccording to the duration of the detection window, the detection windowperiod, and a mapping relationship between “the duration of thedetection window and the detection window period” and the information ofthe time-domain start location of the detection window. No limitation isimposed herein. Similarly, larger duration of the detection window mayindicate a larger detection window period. Alternatively, a value of theduration of the detection window is directly configured to becorresponding to a value of the detection window period.

For a method for obtaining the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window by the terminal, refer to the methodfor obtaining the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window by the network device.

In another possible implementation, the detection window indicationinformation field of the control channel is used to indicate theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection windowand the duration of the detection window.

For example, the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel includes three bits, which may indicate eightinformation values of “the information of the time-domain start locationof the detection window and the duration of the detection window”.

Optionally, the eight information values of “the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window and the duration ofthe detection window” include (0 offsets, 1 slot), (0 offsets, 2 slots),(0 offsets, 4 slots), (1 offset, 1 slot), (1 offset, 2 slots), (moffsets, 1 slot), (m offsets, 2 slots), and (m offsets, 4 slots), wherem is a real number greater than 0.

The duration of the detection window may consist of N time units. A timeunit may be a slot, a mini-slot (including one or more symbols), aframe, a sub-frame, a half frame, a time-domain interval correspondingto a control channel resource set or a time-domain intervalcorresponding to a common signal block. The offset indicates an offsetunit of the detection window. One offset may be a time of one of thefollowing orders of magnitude: a slot, a mini-slot (a time-domaininterval including one, two, four, or seven symbols), a frame, asubframe, a half-frame, a time-domain interval corresponding to aresource set of a control channel, a time-domain interval correspondingto a common signal block, and the like. No specific limitation isimposed herein.

Different values of the detection window indication information field ofthe control channel indicate different “information of time-domain startlocations of the detection window and duration of the detection window”.It is assumed that “000” indicates (0 offsets, 1 slot), and others aresimilar. No specific limitation is imposed herein.

Correspondingly, the network device further needs to obtain thedetection window period. The terminal also needs to obtain the detectionwindow period after receiving the configuration information.

Similar to that in the foregoing embodiment, the network device mayobtain the detection window period in at least one of the followingmanners.

(1) The network device/the terminal obtains the preset detection windowperiod.

To be specific, the network device/the terminal presets or determinesthe detection window period.

(2) The detection window period is associated with the period of thecommon signal block. Herein, the common signal block may include atleast one of a synchronization signal (SS) block and a physicalbroadcast channel (PBCH) block, and may be denoted as an SS/PBCH block.

Specifically, the network device/the terminal may obtain the detectionwindow period according to the period of the common signal block. Forexample, the network device/the terminal may preset or determine themapping relationship between the period of the common signal block andthe detection window period. In this way, the detection window period ofthe control channel may be obtained after the period of the commonsignal block is obtained. Optionally, the network device/the terminalmay predefine that the detection window period of the control channel isequal to the period of the common signal block, or may predefine thatthe detection window period of the control channel is equal to k timesof the period of the common signal block, where k herein is a predefinednatural number.

(3) The detection window period is implicitly indicated by using theduration of the detection window and/or the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window.

After determining the duration of the detection window and/or theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window,the network device/the terminal may obtain the detection window periodaccording to the duration of the detection window, and the mappingrelationship between the duration of the detection window and thedetection window period. Larger duration of the detection window mayindicate a larger detection window period. Alternatively, a value of theduration of the detection window is directly configured to becorresponding to a value of the detection window period.

Alternatively, the network device/the terminal may obtain the detectionwindow period according to the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window, and the mapping relationship betweenthe information of the time-domain start location of the detectionwindow and the detection window period. Similarly, a larger offsetindicating the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window may indicate a larger detection window period.Alternatively, a value of a time-domain start location of the detectionwindow is directly configured to be corresponding to a value of thedetection window period.

Alternatively, the network device/the terminal may obtain the detectionwindow period according to the duration of the detection window, theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window,and a mapping relationship between “the duration of the detection windowand the information of the time-domain start location of the detectionwindow” and the detection window period. No limitation is imposedherein. Larger duration of the detection window may indicate a largeroffset indicating the information of the time-domain start location ofthe detection window. Alternatively, a value of the duration of thedetection window is directly configured to be corresponding to a valueindicating a time-domain start location of the detection window.

The network device/the terminal may obtain the detection window periodaccording to the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window, and the mapping relationship between the informationof the time-domain start location of the detection window and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window.Optionally, the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window is a relative time offset of the detection windowrelative to a first common signal block (SS block) of a first commonsignal block set (SS block burst set) sent by the network device. Theterminal may obtain period information of the detection window throughdeducing according to the offset.

For a specific process of obtaining the detection window period by theterminal, refer to the foregoing process of obtaining the detectionwindow period by the network device. Details are not described hereinagain.

In an embodiment, the detection window indication information field ofthe control channel is used to indicate the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window and the detectionwindow period.

The method further includes obtaining, by the network device, theduration of the detection window.

In a possible design, the obtaining, by the network device, the durationof the detection window includes at least one of the following manners:obtaining, by the network device, preset duration of the detectionwindow, obtaining, by the network device, the duration of the detectionwindow according to a carrier frequency corresponding to the controlchannel, and a mapping relationship between the carrier frequency andthe duration of the detection window, and obtaining, by the networkdevice, the duration of the detection window according to theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection windowand/or the detection window period.

For a process of obtaining the duration of the detection window by aterminal side, refer to the process of obtaining the duration of thedetection window by the network device. Details are not described hereinagain.

In another embodiment, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel indicates a combination of “the duration of thedetection window, the detection window period, and the information ofthe time-domain start location of the detection window”.

In this case, a value of one of the information may be determinedaccording to the other one or two of the information.

For example, the duration of the detection window is determinedaccording to the detection window period and/or the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window. For example, alarger detection window period or larger information of a time-domainstart location of the detection window (indicating the offset of theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window)or both indicate larger duration of the detection window.

The detection window period is determined according to the duration ofthe detection window and/or the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window. For example, larger duration of thedetection window or larger information of a time-domain start locationof the detection window (indicating the offset of the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window) or both indicate alarger detection window period.

The information of the time-domain start location of the detectionwindow is determined according to the duration of the detection windowand/or the detection window period. For example, larger duration of thedetection window or a larger detection window period or both indicatelarger time-domain start location information of the detection window(indicating the offset of the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window).

According to the foregoing embodiments, the detection window period or avalue range of the detection window period may be determined accordingto a system information transmission time interval.

Before the configuration information is determined, the detection windowperiod or the value range of the detection window period may be firstdetermined according to the system information transmission timeinterval (RMSI TTI). This can further reduce a possibility of acombination of “the duration of the detection window, the detectionwindow period, and the information of the time-domain start location ofthe detection window”, so that the detection window indicationinformation field requires fewer bits.

For example, when the RMSI TTI is 80 ms, the detection window period maybe at least one value in the following set: {10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80ms}.

When the RMSI TTI is 160 ms, the detection window period may be at leastone value in the following set: {20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms, 160 ms}.

The system information transmission time interval also needs to be sentto the terminal by using the physical broadcast channel. To reducesignaling overheads of the physical broadcast channel, the systeminformation transmission time interval may be predefined, or may beimplicitly indicated.

Optionally, if the network device and the terminal side predefine aquantity of system information transmission repetitions, the networkdevice and the terminal side may implicitly determine a period of adetection window of the control channel of the system informationaccording to the predefined quantity of repetitions and the systeminformation transmission time interval configured in the broadcastchannel. Conversely, if the network device and the terminal sidepredefine a quantity of system information transmission repetitions, thenetwork device and the terminal side may implicitly determine the systeminformation transmission time interval according to the predefinedquantity of repetitions and the period, configured in the broadcastchannel, of the detection window of the control channel of the systeminformation.

In another implementation, if the network device and the terminal sidemay predefine the system information transmission time interval, thenetwork device and the terminal side may implicitly determine a periodof a detection window of the control channel of the system informationaccording to the predefined transmission time interval and a quantity ofsystem information transmission repetitions that is configured in thebroadcast channel, or may implicitly determine a quantity of systeminformation transmission repetitions according to the predefinedtransmission time interval and a period of a detection window of thecontrol channel of the system information.

Optionally, the network device and the terminal side may alternativelypredefine the detection window period of the control channel, and thenetwork device and the terminal side may implicitly determine a quantityof system information transmission repetitions according to thepredefined detection window period and the system informationtransmission time interval configured in the broadcast channel, or mayimplicitly determine the system information transmission time intervalaccording to the predefined detection window period and a quantity ofsystem information transmission repetitions that is configured in thebroadcast channel.

In addition, the duration of the detection window and the detectionwindow period may be associated with each other. This can achieveresource scheduling flexibility for the control channel of the systeminformation.

For example, the duration of the detection window is determinedaccording to the detection window period, or the detection window periodis determined according to the duration of the detection window.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection window accordingto this application. Each shaded block identifies one detection window.

As shown in FIG. 3, larger duration of the detection window indicates alarger period of a detection window.

In other words, a larger detection window period indicates largerduration of a detection window.

Further, the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel may further indicate a resource multiplexing mode of aresource set of the control channel (Control Resource Set, CORESET) anda common signal block.

Conversely, the network device/the terminal may alternatively determinethe detection window indication information field according to theresource multiplexing mode of the resource set of the control channel(Control Resource Set, CORESET) and the common signal block.

For example, the network device/the terminal determines a value of theduration of the detection window according to the resource multiplexingmode of the CORESET and the common signal block. When the multiplexingmode is a frequency division multiplexing mode, the duration of thedetection window is one slot, or when the multiplexing mode is a timedivision multiplexing mode, the duration of the detection window isgreater than one slot, for example, two or four slots.

The resource multiplexing mode herein may include the time divisionmultiplexing mode, the frequency division multiplexing mode, and thelike. In addition to indicating detection window related information,the detection window indication information field of the control channelmay further indicate the resource multiplexing mode of the resource setof the control channel and the common signal block. For example, theresource multiplexing mode of the resource set CORESET of the controlchannel and the common signal block is indirectly indicated by using amapping relationship between the detection window information (one ormore of the duration of the detection window, the detection windowperiod, and the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window) and “the resource multiplexing mode of the resourceset of the control channel and the common signal block”.

Optionally, it is assumed that a time-domain start location (whose unitis an offset relative to a reference point) of the detection window andthe duration (whose unit is a slot) of the detection window that areindicated by the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel are one of the following: (0, 1), (m, 1), (m, 2), and(m, 4), where m is a real number greater than 0.

On this basis, a resource multiplexing mode, corresponding to (o, 1), ofthe resource set of the control channel and the common signal block isthe frequency division multiplexing mode.

A resource multiplexing mode, corresponding to (m, 1) or (m, 2) or (m,4), of the resource set of the control channel and the common signalblock is the time division multiplexing mode.

To be specific, when it is assumed that the detection window indicationinformation field of the control channel indicates that “the time-domainstart location (offset) of the detection window and the duration (slot)of the detection window” are (0, 1), it indirectly indicates that theresource multiplexing mode, corresponding to (0, 1), of the resource setof the control channel and the common signal block is the frequencydivision multiplexing mode.

The foregoing embodiments are not construed as a limitation.Alternatively, a mapping relationship between “the duration of thedetection window and the detection window period” and the resourcemultiplexing mode of the resource set of the control channel and thecommon signal block may be preset. An indirect indication manner thereofis similar. Details are not described herein again.

Further, m may be determined according to the carrier frequencycorresponding to the control channel of the detection window.

A mapping relationship between the carrier frequency corresponding tothe control channel and m may be preset or determined. Examples are asfollows. When the carrier frequency corresponding to the control channelis less than 3 GHz, m=4, when the carrier frequency corresponding to thecontrol channel is greater than or equal to 3 GHz and less than 6 GHz,m=8, or when the carrier frequency corresponding to the control channelis greater than or equal to 6 GHz, m=64.

According to the foregoing embodiments, the detection window period or avalue range of the detection window period may be determined accordingto a system information transmission time interval.

Before the configuration information is determined, the detection windowperiod or the value range of the detection window period may be firstdetermined according to the system information transmission timeinterval (RMSI TTI). This can further reduce a possibility of acombination of “the duration of the detection window, the detectionwindow period, and the information of the time-domain start location ofthe detection window”, so that the detection window indicationinformation field requires fewer bits.

For example, when the RMSI TI is 80 ms, the detection window period maybe at least one value in the following set: {10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80ms}.

When the RMSI TII is 160 ms, the detection window period may be at leastone value in the following set: {20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms, 16 o ms}.

Optionally, the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window may also be determined according to the carrierfrequency corresponding to the control channel. A difference from theforegoing determining, by the network device, the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window according to thecarrier frequency corresponding to the control channel lies in that theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection windowmay be a preset value, or may be implicitly determined according to thecarrier frequency corresponding to the control channel.

For example, when a carrier frequency band corresponding to the controlchannel is less than 6 gigahertz (GHz), the time-domain start locationof the detection window is a time unit 0 in a frame or a half-frame, orwhen a carrier frequency band corresponding to the control channel isgreater than or equal to 6 GHz, the time-domain start location of thedetection window is a time unit M in a frame or a half-frame, where M isa real number greater than 0. Optionally, the time unit herein may be aslot, a mini-slot (a time-domain interval including one, two, four, orseven symbols), a frame, a subframe, a half-frame, a time-domaininterval corresponding to a resource set of a control channel, atime-domain interval corresponding to a common signal block, or thelike. No specific limitation is imposed herein. It should be understoodthat classification of carrier frequency bands herein is merely apossible example, and there may be another carrier frequency bandclassification method.

The terminal may correspondingly determine the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window after obtaining thecarrier frequency corresponding to the control channel. Before or afterobtaining the control channel configuration information, the networkdevice may also determine the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window according to the carrier frequencycorresponding to the control channel.

Alternatively, the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window is determined according to a time interval of thecorresponding resource set CORESET of the control channel, that is, maybe implicitly indicated by using the time interval of the correspondingresource set CORESET of the control channel.

Specifically, the network device/the terminal may obtain the informationof the time-domain start location of the detection window according tothe time interval of the CORESET. After determining the time interval ofthe CORESET of the control channel, the network device/the terminal mayobtain the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window according to the time interval of the CORESET, and amapping relationship between the time interval of the CORESET and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window.Conversely, after the information of the time-domain start location ofthe detection window is determined, the time interval of the CORESET isobtained according to the information of the time-domain start locationof the detection window, and the mapping relationship between the timeinterval of the CORESET and the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window.

Alternatively, the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window is determined according to a system parametercorresponding to the control channel, that is, may be implicitlyindicated by using the system parameter corresponding to the controlchannel.

Specifically, the network device/the terminal may obtain the informationof the time-domain start location of the detection window according tothe system parameter corresponding to the control channel.

After determining the system parameter corresponding to the controlchannel, the network device/the terminal may obtain the information ofthe time-domain start location of the detection window according to thesystem parameter, and a mapping relationship between the systemparameter of the control channel and the information of the time-domainstart location of the detection window. The system parameter may besubcarrier spacing information for signal transmission. Herein, thesystem parameter corresponding to the control channel is the same as asystem parameter of a data channel scheduled by the control channel. Thedata channel scheduled by the control channel may be a channel fortransmitting system information, a channel for transmitting a randomaccess response, a paging channel, or the like.

Similarly, the duration of the detection window or a value range of theduration of the detection window may also be determined according to thecarrier frequency corresponding to the control channel.

For example, when a carrier frequency band corresponding to the controlchannel is less than 6 GHz, the duration of the detection window or thevalue range of the duration of the detection window may be any one ofthe following: 1 slot and 2 slots. When a carrier frequency bandcorresponding to the control channel is greater than or equal to 6 GHz,the duration of the detection window or the value range of the durationof the detection window may be any one of the following: 2 slots and 4slots. It should be noted that classification of carrier frequency bandsherein is merely a possible example, and there may be another carrierfrequency band classification method.

The terminal may correspondingly determine the duration of the detectionwindow after obtaining the carrier frequency corresponding to thecontrol channel. Before or after obtaining the control channelconfiguration information, the network device may also determine theduration of the detection window or the value range of the duration ofthe detection window according to the carrier frequency corresponding tothe control channel.

Similarly, the detection window period may alternatively be determinedaccording to the carrier frequency corresponding to the control channel.For example, when a carrier frequency band corresponding to the controlchannel is less than 6 GHz, the detection window period or the valuerange of the detection window period may be any one of the following: 10ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, and 80 ms.

When a carrier frequency band corresponding to the control channel isgreater than or equal to 6 GHz, the detection window period or the valuerange of the detection window period may be any one of the following: 20ms, 40 ms, 80 ms, and 160 ms. It should be noted that classification ofcarrier frequency bands herein is merely a possible example, and theremay be another carrier frequency band classification method.

The terminal may correspondingly determine the detection window periodafter obtaining the carrier frequency corresponding to the controlchannel. Before or after obtaining the control channel configurationinformation, the network device may also determine the detection windowperiod or the value range of the detection window period according tothe carrier frequency corresponding to the control channel.

It should be noted that detection windows associated with a plurality ofdifferent SS/BCH blocks may overlap or partially overlap. In otherwords, a plurality of common signal blocks may share a detection window.Detection windows associated with a plurality of consecutive commonsignal blocks may be consecutive or nonconsecutive. No specificlimitation is imposed herein.

According to the foregoing embodiments, the network device may furtherindicate, to the terminal by using the broadcast channel, an intervalvalue between detection windows associated with any two adjacent commonsignal blocks. The interval value herein is a time interval value whichmay indicate an interval between starting symbols of detection windows.The adjacent herein refers to two adjacent common signal blocks, forexample, two adjacent common signal blocks in the same slot.

Optionally, the network device may flexibly configure, for the terminalaccording to actually transmitted common signal blocks or a quantity ofactually transmitted common signal blocks, the time interval valuebetween the detection windows associated with the any two adjacentcommon signal blocks. A candidate time interval value between thedetection windows may include at least one of values such as 0, ⅓, ½, 1,and 2.

0 indicates that the detection windows associated with the any twoadjacent common signal blocks completely overlap. A candidate valuegreater than 0 and less than 1, such as ⅓ or ½, indicates that thedetection windows associated with the any two adjacent common signalblocks partially overlap. A candidate value greater than or equal to 1,such as 1 or 2, indicates that the detection windows associated with theany two adjacent common signal blocks do not overlap. An interval lengthis one or two detection window lengths.

The terminal determines, according to the time interval value and adetected time index of a common signal block, an actual location of adetection window associated with the common signal block.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a detection window indication methodaccording to another embodiment of this application. As shown in FIG. 4,the method includes the following steps.

S401: A network device generates detection window indication informationof a control channel, where the detection window indication informationof the control channel is used to indicate one or more of the following:duration of a detection window, a detection window period, andinformation of a time-domain start location of the detection window.

When a carrier frequency corresponding to the control channel is a firstcarrier frequency, the detection window indication information of thecontrol channel includes N1 bits in a physical broadcast channel.

When a carrier frequency corresponding to the control channel is asecond carrier frequency, the detection window indication information ofthe control channel includes N2 bits in a physical broadcast channel.

N1 is greater than N2, and both N1 and N2 are integers greater than 0.

It should be noted that a quantity of available bits varies depending ondifferent carrier frequencies. A quantity of available bits at the firstcarrier frequency is greater than that at the second carrier frequency.In this case, when the carrier frequency corresponding to the controlchannel is the first carrier frequency, more bits may be used toindicate detection window information.

S402: The network device sends the detection window indicationinformation to a terminal.

S403: The terminal determines the detection window according to thedetection window indication information.

In this embodiment, the network device generates the detection windowindication information of the control channel, to indicate one or moreof the following: the duration of the detection window, the detectionwindow period, and the information of the time-domain start location ofthe detection window. When the carrier frequency corresponding to thecontrol channel is the first carrier frequency, the detection windowindication information of the control channel includes the N1 bits inthe physical broadcast channel. When the carrier frequency correspondingto the control channel is the second carrier frequency, the detectionwindow indication information of the control channel includes the N2bits in the physical broadcast channel. N1 is greater than N2. Further,the network device sends the detection window indication information tothe terminal, and the terminal determines the detection window accordingto the detection window indication information. This implements that thedetection window is flexibly indicated by as more bits as possibleaccording to different quantities of available bits at different carrierfrequencies. This can also indicate more different detection windows.

Optionally, when the carrier frequency corresponding to the controlchannel is the first carrier frequency, the N1 bits include a commonsignal block time index field.

It should be noted that, when the carrier frequency corresponding to thecontrol channel is the first carrier frequency, there is an unused fieldin a physical broadcast channel payload (payload). The unused idle fieldmay be used to indicate the detection window.

For example, the first carrier frequency may be any carrier frequencyband less than or equal to 6 GHz. When the carrier frequencycorresponding to the control channel is less than or equal to 6 GHz,there is an unused three-bit common signal block time index field in aPBCH payload. In this case, in addition to bits that originally can beused for the detection window indication information of the controlchannel, the three-bit common signal block time index field may befurther added.

Correspondingly, the second carrier frequency is any carrier frequencyband greater than 6 GHz.

Further, this application further provides a system informationindication method. The system information indication method may beindependent of other implementations of this application, or may be usedtogether with other implementations of this application.

A network device generates system information indication information,where the system information indication information is used to indicatewhether system information corresponding to a common signal blockexists, and the system information indication information is explicitlyor implicitly indicated to a terminal by using N1 bits in a physicalbroadcast channel of the common signal block, and sends the systeminformation indication information to the terminal. The terminalreceives the system information indication information, and thendetermines system information. N1 is an integer greater than 0.

The N1 bits are indication information bits used to indicate a physicalresource block grid offset, or the N1 bits are CRC (Cyclic RedundancyCheck) mask indication bits of a broadcast channel, or the N1 bits aretime index indication bits of a common signal block of a broadcastchannel and/or control channel configuration information indication bitsof system information of a broadcast channel.

Specifically, each common signal block is associated with a detectionwindow of a control channel of one piece of system information. Further,one common signal block is usually associated with one piece of systeminformation (for example, RMSI). In a scenario with extremely highsystem bandwidth and/or a plurality of beams, when there are many commonsignal blocks in a cell in a time domain and a frequency domain, andeach common signal block is associated with one piece of systeminformation, resource overheads of system information in the cell areextremely large. In addition, the terminal performs joint channelquality measurement on a plurality of common signal blocks. This canimprove channel quality measurement precision, such as measurementprecision of radio resource management (RRM) measurement. However, toobtain basic system access information, there is no need to read aplurality of pieces of system information. Therefore, to reduce resourceoverheads of system information and avoid unnecessary system informationtransmission, some common signal blocks may not be associated withcorresponding system information. A base station may explicitly orimplicitly notify, by using a broadcast channel, the terminal of whethereach common signal block is associated with corresponding systeminformation, such as RMSI. In other words, the network device explicitlyor implicitly notifies, by using a broadcast channel in each commonsignal block, the terminal of whether RMSI corresponding to the commonsignal block exists.

The explicit manner is explicitly adding one bit to the broadcastchannel of the common signal block to indicate whether the RMSIcorresponding to the common signal block exists. The implicit manner isusing specific states of some domain fields in the broadcast channel,and optionally, indicating, by the network device by using the broadcastchannel of the common signal block in the following manners, whether theRMSI corresponding to the common signal block exists as described below.

(1) The network device indicates, by using physical resource block gridoffset indication information in the broadcast channel of the commonsignal block, whether the RMSI (also can be called SIB1) correspondingto the common signal block exists. Indicating whether the SIB1corresponding to the common signal block exists can also be understoodindicating whether scheduling information of the SIB1 corresponding tothe common signal block exists. The scheduling information of the SIB1can be included in information carried in a CORESET of a Typeo-PDCCHwherein the CORESET is used for a common search space of theTypeo-PDCCH. Indicating whether the SIB1 corresponding to the commonsignal block exists can also be understood indicating whether theCORESET which corresponds to the common signal block and is used for thecommon search space of the Typeo-PDCCH exists.

The physical resource block grid offset can be in unit of sub-carrier.The physical resource block grid offset indication information is mainlyused as a time-frequency resource indication of RMSI and an RMSI CORESET(also can be called CORESET of Typeo-PDCCH) at an initial access stage,and is specifically used to indicate information about an offset of aphysical resource block grid of the common signal block relative to anindex of a system common physical resource block, for example, aquantity of offset sub-carriers. A normal value of the physical resourceblock grid offset indication information in the broadcast channelincludes any one of {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11}. When thecommon signal block has no corresponding RMSI, the information field hassome specific states. In this case, the network device sets a value ofthe physical resource block grid offset indication information in thebroadcast channel to a particular value, for example, any other valuedifferent from the normal value of the physical resource block gridoffset indication information, such as 12. When the common signal blockhas corresponding RMSI, a value of the physical resource block gridoffset indication information in the broadcast channel is the normalvalue of the indication information, namely, any one of {0, 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11}. Whether each common signal block hascorresponding RMSI may be implicitly indicated according to differentvalues of the physical resource block grid offset indication informationin the broadcast channel of the common signal block.

(2) The network device implicitly indicates, by using a CRC mask in thebroadcast channel of the common signal block, whether the RMSIcorresponding to the common signal block exists. For example, a case inwhich the RMSI corresponding to the common signal block exists iscorresponding to one mask value, and a case in which the RMSIcorresponding to the common signal block does not exist is correspondingto another mask value.

(3) At a first carrier frequency band (less than 6 GHz), the networkdevice explicitly indicates, by using a common signal block time indexinformation field in the broadcast channel of the common signal block,whether the RMSI corresponding to the common signal block exists, and/orat a second carrier frequency band (greater than or equal to 6 GHz), thenetwork device indicates, by using an RMSI control channel configurationinformation field in the broadcast channel of the common signal block,whether the RMSI corresponding to the common signal block exists. Aspecific indication method is similar to manner (1) of performingindication by using indication information of an offset of a physicalresource block relative to coordinates. To be specific, whether eachcommon signal block has corresponding RMSI is implicitly indicatedaccording to different values of any one or more fields in RMSI controlchannel configuration information.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection windowindication apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. Theapparatus may be integrated in the foregoing network device. As shown inFIG. 5, the apparatus includes a generation module 501 and a sendingmodule 502.

The generation module 501 is configured to generate control channelconfiguration information, where the control channel configurationinformation includes a detection window indication information field ofa control channel, and the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel is used to indicate at least two of thefollowing: duration of a detection window, a detection window period,and information of a time-domain start location of the detection window.

The sending module 502 is configured to send the control channelconfiguration information to a terminal.

Optionally, the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel indicates any two of the following information: theduration of the detection window, the detection window period, and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window.

Information other than the two of the information indicated by thedetection window indication information field of the control channel ispreset information, or is determined according to a preset mappingrelationship.

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection windowindication apparatus according to another embodiment of thisapplication. According to FIG. 5, the apparatus further includes anobtaining module 601.

In an implementation, the detection window indication information fieldof the control channel is used to indicate the duration of the detectionwindow and the detection window period.

The obtaining module 601 is configured to obtain the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window.

Specifically, the obtaining module 601 specifically obtains theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window inat least one of the following manners: obtaining information of a presettime-domain start location of the detection window, obtaining theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection windowaccording to a carrier frequency corresponding to the control channel,and a mapping relationship between the carrier frequency and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window,and obtaining the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window according to the duration of the detection windowand/or the detection window period.

In another implementation, the detection window indication informationfield of the control channel is used to indicate the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window and the duration ofthe detection window.

The obtaining module 601 is configured to obtain the detection windowperiod.

Specifically, the obtaining module 601 specifically obtains thedetection window period in at least one of the following manners:obtaining a preset detection window period, obtaining the detectionwindow period according to a period of a common signal block, andobtaining the detection window period according to the duration of thedetection window and/or the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection windowindication apparatus according to still another embodiment of thisapplication. The apparatus may be integrated in the foregoing terminal.As shown in FIG. 7, the apparatus includes a receiving module 701 and adetermining module 702.

The receiving module 701 is configured to receive control channelconfiguration information sent by a network device, where the controlchannel configuration information includes a detection window indicationinformation field of a control channel, and the detection windowindication information field of the control channel is used to indicateat least two of the following: duration of a detection window, adetection window period, and information of a time-domain start locationof the detection window.

The determining module 702 is configured to determine the detectionwindow of the control channel according to the control channelconfiguration information.

Optionally, the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel indicates any two of the following information: theduration of the detection window, the detection window period, and theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window.

Information other than the two of the information indicated by thedetection window indication information field of the control channel ispreset information, or is determined according to a preset mappingrelationship.

Optionally, the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel is used to indicate the duration of the detection windowand the detection window period.

Optionally, the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window is obtained in at least one of the following manners:the information of the time-domain start location of the detectionwindow is information of a preset time-domain start location of thedetection window, obtaining the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window according to a carrier frequencycorresponding to the control channel, and a mapping relationship betweenthe carrier frequency and the information of the time-domain startlocation of the detection window, and obtaining the information of thetime-domain start location of the detection window according to theduration of the detection window and/or the detection window period.

Optionally, the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel is used to indicate the information of the time-domainstart location of the detection window and the duration of the detectionwindow.

Optionally, the detection window period is obtained in at least one ofthe following manners: the detection window period is a preset detectionwindow period, obtaining the detection window period according to aperiod of a common signal block, and obtaining the detection windowperiod according to the duration of the detection window and/or theinformation of the time-domain start location of the detection window.

According to FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, the following may optionally be applied.

Optionally, the detection window period or a value range of thedetection window period is determined according to a system informationtransmission time interval.

Optionally, the duration of the detection window is determined accordingto the detection window period, or the detection window period isdetermined according to the duration of the detection window.

Further, the detection window indication information field of thecontrol channel further indicates a resource multiplexing mode of aresource set of the control channel and the common signal block.

The time-domain start location of the detection window and the durationof the detection window that are indicated by the detection windowindication information field of the control channel are one of thefollowing: (0, 1), (m, 1), (m, 2), and (m, 4), where m is a real numbergreater than 0.

A resource multiplexing mode, corresponding to (0, 1), of the resourceset of the control channel and the common signal block is a frequencydivision multiplexing mode.

A resource multiplexing mode, corresponding to (m, 1) or (m, 2) or (m,4), of the resource set of the control channel and the common signalblock is a time division multiplexing mode.

m is determined according to the carrier frequency corresponding to thecontrol channel.

In addition, the information of the time-domain start location of thedetection window is determined according to the carrier frequencycorresponding to the control channel.

Optionally, the duration of the detection window or a value range of theduration of the detection window is determined according to the carrierfrequency corresponding to the control channel.

The apparatus may be configured to perform the methods provided in theforegoing method embodiments. A specific implementation and a technicaleffect are similar to those of the method embodiments. Details are notdescribed herein again.

It should be noted that the module division of the apparatus is merelylogical function division. In actual implementation, all or some of themodules may be integrated into one physical entity, or may be physicallyseparated. In addition, all of the modules may be implemented bysoftware invoked by a processing element, or all of the modules may beimplemented by hardware, or some of the modules may be implemented bysoftware invoked by a processing element, and some of the modules may beimplemented by hardware. For example, the obtaining module may be anindependent processing element, or may be integrated in a chip of theapparatus. Alternatively, the obtaining module may be stored in a memoryof the apparatus in a form of program code, and invoked and executed bya processing element of the apparatus. The apparatus may be configuredto perform the methods provided in the foregoing method embodiments. Aspecific implementation and a technical effect are similar to those ofthe method embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

It should be noted that the module division of the apparatus is merelylogical function division. In actual implementation, all or some of themodules may be integrated into one physical entity, or may be physicallyseparated. In addition, all of the modules may be implemented bysoftware invoked by a processing element, or all of the modules may beimplemented by hardware, or some of the modules may be implemented bysoftware invoked by a processing element, and some of the modules may beimplemented by hardware. For example, the determining module may be anindependent processing element, or may be integrated in a chip of theapparatus. Alternatively, the determining module may be stored in amemory of the apparatus in a form of program code, and a processingelement of the apparatus invokes and executes a function of thedetermining module. Implementations of other modules are similarthereto. Moreover, some or all of the modules may be integrated, or maybe independently implemented. The processing element herein may be anintegrated circuit with a signal processing capability. In animplementation process, steps in the foregoing methods or the foregoingmodules may be implemented by using a hardware integrated logic circuitin the processor element, or by using instructions in a form ofsoftware.

For example, the modules may be configured as one or more integratedcircuits to implement the foregoing methods, for example, one or moreapplication-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), one or moremicroprocessors (DSP), or one or more field programmable gate arrays(FPGA). For another example, when one of the modules is implemented byprogram code invoked by a processing element, the processing element maybe a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU),or another processor that can invoke program code. For another example,the modules may be integrated, and implemented in a form of asystem-on-a-chip (SOC). Functions of the modules. Implementations ofother modules are similar thereto. Moreover, some or all of the modulesmay be integrated, or may be independently implemented. The processingelement herein may be an integrated circuit with a signal processingcapability. In an implementation process, steps in the foregoing methodsor the foregoing modules may be implemented by using a hardwareintegrated logic circuit in the processor element, or by usinginstructions in a form of software.

For example, the modules may be configured as one or more integratedcircuits to implement the foregoing methods, for example, one or moreapplication-specific integrated circuits (ASIC), one or moremicroprocessors (DSP), or one or more field programmable gate arrays(FPGA). For another example, when one of the modules is implemented byprogram code invoked by a processing element, the processing element maybe a general-purpose processor, such as a central processing unit (CPU),or another processor that can invoke program code. For another example,the modules may be integrated, and implemented in a form of asystem-on-a-chip (SOC).

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection windowindication apparatus according to yet another embodiment of thisapplication. The apparatus may be integrated in the foregoing networkdevice. As shown in FIG. 8, the apparatus 1000 includes a processor1001, a memory 1004, a receiver 1003, and a transmitter 1002.

The receiver 1003 and the transmitter 1002 are configured to communicatewith another network element. The memory 1004 is configured to store aprogram that can be executed by the processor 1001. The program includesan instruction used to implement the methods, the steps, or theprocesses in the foregoing embodiments.

For details about the methods, the processes, the steps, benefits, andthe like, refer to the descriptions of the content in the foregoingembodiments. Details are not described herein again.

FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a detection windowindication apparatus according to still yet another embodiment of thisapplication. The apparatus may be integrated in the foregoing terminal.As shown in FIG. 9, the apparatus 2000 includes a processor 2001, amemory 2003, and a transceiver 2002.

The transceiver 2002 is configured to communicate with another networkelement (may communicate with the another network element by using anantenna). The memory 2003 is configured to store a program that can beexecuted by the processor 2001. The program includes an instruction usedto implement the methods, the steps, or the processes in the foregoingembodiments. For details about the methods, the processes, the steps,benefits, and the like, refer to the descriptions of the content in theforegoing embodiments. Details are not described herein again.

Optionally, when the detection window indication methods in theforegoing embodiments are completely or partially implemented bysoftware, the detection window indication apparatus may alternativelyinclude only a processor. A memory configured to store a program islocated outside the detection window indication apparatus. The processoris connected to the memory by using a circuit or a wire, to read andexecute the program stored in the memory.

The processor may be a central processing unit (CPU), a networkprocessor (NP), or a combination of a CPU and an NP.

The processor may further include a hardware chip. The hardware chip maybe an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmablelogic device (PLD), or a combination thereof. The PLD may be a complexprogrammable logic device (CPLD), a field programmable gate array(FPGA), a generic array logic (GAL), or any combination thereof.

The memory may include a transitory memory, such as a random accessmemory (RAM), or the memory may include a non-transitory memory, such asa flash memory (flash memory), a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid-statedrive (SSD), or the memory may include a combination of the foregoingtypes of memories.

In another embodiment, the processor is further configured to generatedetection window indication information of a control channel, where thedetection window indication information is used to indicate one or moreof the following: duration of a detection window, a detection windowperiod, and information of a time-domain start location of the detectionwindow, and when a carrier frequency corresponding to the controlchannel is a first carrier frequency, the detection window indicationinformation includes N1 bits in a physical broadcast channel, or when acarrier frequency corresponding to the control channel is a secondcarrier frequency, the detection window indication information includesN2 bits in a physical broadcast channel, where N1 is greater than N2,and send the detection window indication information to a terminal.

Alternatively, in another embodiment, the processor is furtherconfigured to receive detection window indication information sent by anetwork device, where the detection window indication information isused to indicate one or more of the following: duration of a detectionwindow, a detection window period, and information of a time-domainstart location of the detection window, and when a carrier frequencycorresponding to the control channel is a first carrier frequency, thedetection window indication information includes N1 bits in a physicalbroadcast channel, or when a carrier frequency corresponding to thecontrol channel is a second carrier frequency, the detection windowindication information includes N2 bits in a physical broadcast channel,where N1 is greater than N2, and determine the detection window of thecontrol channel according to the detection window indicationinformation.

An embodiment of this application further provides a computer storagemedium. The computer storage medium stores a computer program. Thecomputer program is used to perform the detection window indicationmethods provided in the foregoing embodiments.

An embodiment of this application further provides a computer programproduct including an instruction. When the computer program product runson a computer, the computer performs the detection window indicationmethods provided in the foregoing embodiments.

A person skilled in the art should understand that the embodiments ofthis application may be provided as a method, a system, or a computerprogram product. Therefore, this application may use a form of hardwareonly embodiments, software only embodiments, or embodiments with acombination of software and hardware. Moreover, this application may usea form of a computer program product that is implemented on one or morecomputer-usable storage media (including but not limited to a diskmemory, a CD-ROM, an optical memory, and the like) that includecomputer-usable program code.

This application is described with reference to the flowcharts and/orblock diagrams of the method, the device (system), and the computerprogram product according to the embodiments of this application. Itshould be understood that computer program instructions may be used toimplement each process and/or each block in the flowcharts and/or theblock diagrams and a combination of a process and/or a block in theflowcharts and/or the block diagrams. These computer programinstructions may be provided for a general-purpose computer, a dedicatedcomputer, an embedded processor, or a processor of any otherprogrammable data processing device to generate a machine, so that theinstructions executed by a computer or a processor of any otherprogrammable data processing device generate an apparatus forimplementing a specific function in one or more processes in theflowcharts and/or in one or more blocks in the block diagrams.

These computer program instructions may be stored in a computer-readablememory that can instruct the computer or any other programmable dataprocessing device to work in a specific manner, so that the instructionsstored in the computer-readable memory generate an artifact thatincludes an instruction apparatus. The instruction apparatus implementsa specific function in one or more processes in the flowcharts and/or inone or more blocks in the block diagrams.

These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer oranother programmable data processing device, so that a series ofoperations and steps are performed on the computer or the anotherprogrammable device, thereby generating computer-implemented processing.Therefore, the instructions executed on the computer or the anotherprogrammable device provide steps for implementing a specific functionin one or more processes in the flowcharts and/or in one or more blocksin the block diagrams.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: one or more processors;a non-transitory memory coupled to the one or more processors, whereinthe non-transitory memory stores a program to be executed by the one ormore processors, the program including instructions for: receivingindication information indicating whether system informationcorresponding to a common signal block exists, wherein the indicationinformation comprises N1 bits in a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) ofthe common signal block, and wherein N1 is an integer greater than 0;and receiving the system information corresponding to the common signalblock in response to the indication information indicating that thesystem information corresponding to the common signal block exists. 2.The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the N1 bits indicate aphysical resource block grid offset being an offset of a physicalresource block grid of the common signal block relative to an index of asystem common physical resource block.
 3. The apparatus according toclaim 2, wherein the physical resource block grid offset is in units ofa sub-carrier.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theinstructions for receiving the system information include instructionsfor: receiving the system information in response to the N1 bitsindicating a value within a normal value range.
 5. The apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the normal value range is {0, 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11}.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe N1 bits indicating a value outside a normal value range isassociated with the system information not existing.
 7. The apparatusaccording to claim 6, wherein the normal value range is {0, 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11}.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe instructions for receiving the indication information includeinstructions for: receiving the indication information, wherein theindication information indicates whether a control resource set(CORESET) corresponding to the common signal block and used for a commonsearch space of a typeo physical downlink control channel (Typeo-PDCCH)exists; and wherein the receiving the system information comprises:receiving, according to the CORESET, control information for the systeminformation in response to the indication information indicating thatthe CORESET exists; and receiving, according to the control information,the system information.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, whereinthe program further includes instructions for: receiving control channelconfiguration information from a network device, wherein the controlchannel configuration information indicates a resource multiplexing modeof a resource set of a control channel and a common signal block, andwherein the control channel configuration information further indicatesat least one of a duration of a detection window of the control channelor a time-domain start location of the detection window of the controlchannel; and detecting, according to the detection window and theresource set, the control channel.
 10. The apparatus according to claim1, wherein the common signal block comprises a primary synchronizationsignal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), and the PBCH.11. An apparatus, comprising: one or more processors; a non-transitorymemory coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the non-transitorymemory stores a program to be executed by the one or more processors,the program including instructions for: sending indication informationindicating whether system information corresponding to a common signalblock exists, wherein the indication information comprises N1 bits in aphysical broadcast channel (PBCH) of the common signal block, andwherein N1 is an integer greater than 0; and sending the systeminformation in response to the indication information indicating thatthe system information corresponding to the common signal block exists.12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the N1 bits indicate aphysical resource block grid offset being an offset of a physicalresource block grid of the common signal block relative to an index of asystem common physical resource block.
 13. The apparatus according toclaim 12, wherein the physical resource block grid offset is in units ofa sub-carrier.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein theinstructions for sending the system information include instructionsfor: sending the system information in response to the N1 bitsindicating a value within a normal value range.
 15. The apparatusaccording to claim 14, wherein the normal value range is {0, 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11}.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 11, whereinthe N1 bits indicating a value outside a normal value range isassociated with the system information not existing.
 17. The apparatusaccording to claim 16, wherein the normal value range is {0, 1, 2, 3, 4,5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11}.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 11, whereinthe instructions for sending the indication information includeinstructions for: sending the indication information indicating whethera control resource set (CORESET) corresponding to the common signalblock and used for a common search space of a type 0 physical downlinkcontrol channel (Type 0-PDCCH) exists; and wherein the instructions forsending the system information include instructions for, comprises:sending, in the CORESET, control information for the system informationin response to the indication information indicating that the CORESETexists; and sending the system information.
 19. The apparatus accordingto claim 11, wherein the program further includes instructions for:sending control channel configuration information to a terminal, whereinthe control channel configuration information indicates a resourcemultiplexing mode of a resource set of a control channel and a commonsignal block, and wherein the control channel configuration informationfurther indicates at least one of a duration of a detection window ofthe control channel or a time-domain start location of the detectionwindow of the control channel; and sending, in the resource set andwithin the detection window, the control channel.
 20. The apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein the common signal block comprises aprimary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal(SSS) and the PBCH.
 21. A non-transitory computer readable medium,wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium stores instructionsthat are executable by a computer, and the instructions compriseinstructions for: communicating indication information with a device,wherein the indication information indicates whether system informationcorresponding to a common signal block exists, wherein the indicationinformation comprises N1 bits in a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) ofthe common signal block, and wherein N1 is an integer greater than 0;and communicating the system information with the device in response tothe indication information indicating that the system informationcorresponding to the common signal block exists.
 22. The non-transitorycomputer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the N1 bitsindicate a physical resource block grid offset being an offset of aphysical resource block grid of the common signal block relative to anindex of a system common physical resource block.
 23. The non-transitorycomputer readable medium according to claim 21, wherein the instructionsfor communicating the system information with the device includeinstructions for: communicating the system information with the devicein response to the N1 bits indicating a value within a normal valuerange.
 24. The non-transitory computer readable medium according toclaim 21, wherein the N1 bits indicating a value outside a normal valuerange is associated with the system information not existing.
 25. Thenon-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 21, whereinthe common signal block comprises a primary synchronization signal(PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) and the PBCH.
 26. Amethod, comprising: sending indication information indicating whethersystem information corresponding to a common signal block exists,wherein the indication information comprises N1 bits in a physicalbroadcast channel (PBCH) of the common signal block, and wherein N1 isan integer greater than 0; and sending the system information inresponse to the indication information indicating that the systeminformation corresponding to the common signal block exists.
 27. Themethod according claim 26, wherein the N1 bits indicate a physicalresource block grid offset being an offset of a physical resource blockgrid of the common signal block relative to an index of a system commonphysical resource block.
 28. The method according claim 26, wherein thesending the system information comprises: sending the system informationin response to the N1 bits indicating a value within a normal valuerange.
 29. The method according claim 26, wherein the N1 bits indicatinga value outside a normal value range is associated with the systeminformation not existing.
 30. The method according claim 26, wherein thecommon signal block comprises a primary synchronization signal (PSS), asecondary synchronization signal (SSS) and the PBCH.
 31. A system,comprising: a network device, configured to: send indication informationindicating whether system information corresponding to a common signalblock exists, wherein the indication information comprises N1 bits in aphysical broadcast channel (PBCH) of the common signal block, andwherein N1 is an integer greater than 0; and send the system informationin response to the indication information indicating that the systeminformation corresponding to the common signal block exists; and aterminal, configured to: receive the indication information from thenetwork device; and receive the system information from the networkdevice in response to the indication information indicating that thesystem information exists.
 32. The system according to claim 31, whereinthe N1 bits indicate a physical resource block grid offset being anoffset of a physical resource block grid of the common signal blockrelative to an index of a system common physical resource block.
 33. Thesystem according to claim 31, wherein the N1 bits indicating a valuewithin a normal value range is associated with the system informationexisting.
 34. The system according to claim 31, wherein the N1 bitsindicating a value outside a normal value range is associated with thesystem information not existing.
 35. The system according to claim 31,wherein the common signal block comprises a primary synchronizationsignal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) and the PBCH.